I. adjective
also ar·ian ˈa(a)rēən, ˈer-, ˈār- sometimes ˈärēən or ˈäryən or ˈȧrē- or ˈȧy-
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Sanskrit ārya, adjective & noun, noble, Aryan, member of the upper castes, probably from ari stranger, enemy; akin to Avestan airyō Aryan, Old Persian ariya, and probably to Latin alius other — more at else
1. : of or relating to the Indo-European family of languages or to their hypothetical prototype
2. : of or relating to speakers of Indo-European languages
3.
a. : of or relating to a hypothetical ethnic type illustrated by or descended from early speakers of Indo-European languages
b. : nordic
4. : of or relating to the Indo-Iranians or their speech
II. noun
also arian “
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Sanskrit ārya
1. : a member of the Indo-European-speaking people one branch of which early occupied the Iranian plateau while another branch entered India and conquered and amalgamated with the earlier non-Indo-European inhabitants : indo-iranian
2.
a. : member of the people that spoke the language from which the Indo-European languages are derived
b. : an individual of any of those peoples who have spoken these languages since prehistoric times : indo-european
c. : nordic
d. : gentile
3. : a member of the Indo-European-speaking modern peoples of India as opposed to the Dravidian-speaking ones